India’s BSE Sensex closed about 0.5% higher at 76,515 on Friday, ending a four-day losing streak as easing oil prices and reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate hikes supported equities. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said Thursday he favored keeping rates unchanged if incoming data confirms moderating inflation pressures. Investors remained cautious because of persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and heightened volatility after India introduced a new closing-auction mechanism (end-of-day price-setting process). Metals, financial services, private banking and oil and gas shares attracted strong buying. Tata Steel led the advance with a 2.9% gain, followed by Reliance Industries at 1.6%, Bajaj Finance at 1.5%, Trent at 1.3% and Adani Ports at 1.3%. HDFC Bank rose 1.3%, while Kotak Mahindra Bank, UltraTech Cement and Titan gained 1.2%, 1.1% and 1%, respectively. Bharti Airtel and HCL Technologies each fell 1.2%, Eternal declined 1.1%, and Asian Paints and TCS lost 0.5% each.